The American Dream: Is it time to remember to let others share in the dream beyond the season of giving?

As I inch closer to the AARP grid, I can’t help but reflect on what celebrity, politics and pop culture looked like when I was growing up. Breaking into anything required hard work and took time. Some were lucky and didn’t have to work so hard. While others paid their dues to earn a place in their chosen field. The common goal was getting their heavenly slice of the American dream and leave  enough for the next dreamer.

                Now it seems we’ve forgotten what it means to share and let others get a piece of pie. I remember when models made the covers of magazines and were in commercial and editorial spreads. Models have been replaced by some award winning and A-list actresses in print and commercials for hair products, makeup and more. I am beginning to think that perhaps we’re being too hard on skinny models. They may not be skinny by choice as more of them are competing for fewer opportunities.

                Then there are the artists. Whether it’s music, writing, painting, photography, culinary or fashion, people who have spent years honing their craft are being eclipsed by celebrities. Not 15 years ago, Kathie Lee Gifford, Jacklyn Smith and a few other celebrities had clothing lines in Kmart but now Nikki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z and Sean Combs are in your local department stores next to Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne. Though they've attained their goal the rush to diversification is squeezing the men and women trying to climb the mountain to reach their dream for a better life doing what they love harder to reach.

                I am not that religious but in a country that talks about God, Jesus, sacrifice and good will to all men it seems hypocritical to cut others off when you’ve got yours and then some. We see it in Washington when elected officials fight for people who have plenty of money and want to find ways to keep more of it while putting the burden on the middle class and taking funding away from people in need. People on unemployment aren’t at home watching soaps waiting for a check that’s half of what they made when they worked. They are looking for jobs. SNAP recipients aren’t eating filet mignon on 180.00 a month, but they cut that too. What I find ironic is in about 3 weeks a deluge of ads for weight loss programs, gyms and nutritional supplements will be upon us. However those who receive less than 200.00 a month in SNAP benefits know they can't afford to buy the healthy stuff for their families and stretch their pantries out for a month. Instead they're faced with the over processed, sugar, sodium and fat loaded food in the store. Yet with the loopholes for the rich to get richer, they can afford to be healthier with organic fresh vegetables, gluten free, low sodium, high protein foods to benefit their bodies while regular folks try to buy just enough of the healthy stuff and still pay their electric and heating bills.

                This isn’t a case of sour grapes. I applaud people who were committed to make their dreams of being a singer, dancer, professional athlete, actor, author, model, chef, radio host, television host, news reporter and even those who aspired to be politicians. The list is too numerous to go on. A story comes to mind but I’m not sure if this is a Hollywood myth or not. Wil Smith and his father just as his star truly began to rise. Apparently he was proudly showing his father all the great cars he bought that he loved as a kid from Philadelphia. While I am sure his father was indeed proud of him he asked “Just how many asses do you have?” It made me chuckle but it gave me food for thought. Just how much is too much? I’m sure the celebrities with clothing lines, perfumes and the like were approached by companies who wanted to use their celebrity to sell whatever but when do you say no? Someone moved over to give them room at the table. Why can’t they do the same? I know of so many talented singers, models, dancers, stylists, designers, song writers and authors who can’t get a shot at showing the world their talent. I know there are ways to do it online. Post something to You Tube and hope you go viral. The problem is everyone is trying to go viral. You can pay someone to help you with PR but that costs quite a bit of money. If you’re like me with over 4,000.00 in medication costs monthly due to MS it's a check I can't write.

                The 1^st anniversary of Newtown tomorrow gave me pause to sit down and write this blog. Those precious lives young and old won’t be at the table to get their piece of the American dream. We don’t know how many would have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, vets, singers, nurses, researchers, artists, chefs, authors, designers, Congressman, Senators or even a future President of the United States. It’s the dreams left unwritten that saddens and yet empowers me to press forward as an author and writer until I get a slice of the American dream.It's funny that I'm not talking about a quarter slice, most would take less than an eighth and be satisfied.  Moreover, I hope for the day when I’m able to pay it forward.

                In the end it’s about our humanity. I believe those living the dream are sharing it with family, donating their time and money to charitable causes. They head out on the stump to support politicians who reflect their values. At the end of the day if you can close your eyes knowing you've taken care of your family and future generations it's time to pass the baton and give someone who works hard a chance to do it too.

Post Memorial Day Reflections and Realizations

This Memorial Day, I happily watched my sons man the grill, enjoyed the sun and the spring breeze. There were the traditional parades, national ceremonies in Washington D.C. and a lot of great television programs about wars past and present, I always feel that we miss the point of the holiday and are more concerned with our menu, libations and games. I’m not a wet blanket. I believe you should spend your day off any way you’d like to. However I would like us to take a little time out to remember the sacrifices our servicemen/servicewomen and their families made in the past and continue to make everyday. Goodness knows they deserve it. 

For some reason this Memorial Day I found myself thinking about our government on the whole. I went back over the last month’s worth of headlines to gauge just how dysfunctional and vitriolic our democracy has become. Naturally, we blame the politicians but I’m sorry to say that we have to shoulder some of the blame for just how crazy Washington politics have become. We can’t lay the blame on the right wing or left-wing, conservatives, liberals, Republicans, Independents or Democrats. Believe it or not this is completely non-partisan. The fact is we are suffering a national case of selective ADD. At this moment there are a lot of things going on in the government that we aren’t paying attention to despite Fox and MSNBC’s constant biased loops. To be fair, Fox has a host that seems to break away from their usual formula. MSNBC has programs and hosts that truly bring in varying and often opposing views. Yet the overall focus of the current “scandals” with the exception of the AP issue (I am a writer after all) is on things that don’t affect the American public. Now I know you’re thinking what about the IRS? Isn’t that something I should worry about? The actual number of regular folks that get audited is rather small considering the number of returns that are filed yearly. This IRS flap has to do with social welfare groups being scrutinized because they get a tax exemption on the money they raise under 501 (c) 4. Was it wrong to target conservative groups? Yes. Although the groups in question didn’t raise enormous amounts of tax exempt money other groups like them have. The problem is this money is supposed to further social education. Yet many of the larger groups (conservative and liberal) have distinct political agendas to further. Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican it should give you pause. Once you’ve filed your taxes or applied for an exemption or earned income credit both you and your accountant qualify to be an acrobat for Cirque du Soleil for all the twisting and turning you had to go through. 

The deficit has decreased and people in D.C still want to cut essential programs. In fact, they are cutting them as I write. Why isn’t anyone paying attention? Stand on any checkout line and you will get your answer. Snooki has a smoking hot post baby body. Kim Khardashian is upset that her feet are fat and she’s gained weight as a pregnant, recent divorcée. One of the teen moms did a sex tape for 1.5 million dollars. Katie Holmes is getting too skinny because she’s scared of Tom Cruise’s influence on their daughter. Naturally she is one of a few scary skinny celebrities. I didn’t have to turn on the television to get this information. I read it in line. Though it’s true I could get the same information watching the scroll on the bottom of the news broadcast. We are more interested in reality television personalities than we are in our lives and the things that can actually affect how we live. Don't get me wrong, I believe the movies saved so many people during the Great Depression. It gave them the chance to escape from the harsh reality of their lives. The truth is reality still bites and we do need a diversion. Entertainment isn't the problem.In fact, its doing its job quite well.

That said, having our attention diverted is different from being in a coma. If you love the Real Housewives, watch it without shame.

 

This isn't a fire and brimstone condemnation of our society's "guilty pleasures" (I know you hate that term Michael) After all, I’m a wedding and romance author. There is nothing I like more than writing books for readers to escape and enjoy on a park bench or at the beach. I think we should exercise the freedom our military has protected for us and if that means watching Big Brother, The Voice, Duck Dynasty, Dance Moms or reading the latest Harlequin, Cromwell, Patterson or Grisham then have at it. John Lennon said “Whatever gets you through the night. It’s all right.” I only ask that we devote as much attention to the real drama in the world as we do the latest television cat fight, NBA playoff game, French Open, US Open and The Hangover Part Three.

My boyfriend, Michael B is an intellectual. He loves to read. He cannot stand reality television. He’s not alone; my father doesn’t like it either. However, both are sports lovers and delight in political and current event debates. It gets them through the night so it’s all right. They’re demonstrating the true meaning of what it takes to be fair and balanced in real life.

Reality Television with women over 40:It's our Second Act with a soft script and plenty of cameras

If you are north of forty like me, you grew up with scripted sitcoms and dramatic television shows. I recall the days when our friends would gather at the back fence to discuss what just happened on General Hospital in the Luke and Laura days. Once the commercials were over, we raced back inside determined not to miss a word.

I'm a part of the MTV generation when it actually aired music videos. I remember all the excitement when the network announced a new show called The Real World. Back then I followed the show for a few installments before real life got in the way. At the time reality programming was the exception and not the rule. Boy have times changed.

When Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County show proved to be successful it wasn't long before we had several incarnations from New York City, New Jersey, Atlanta, Miami and Beverly Hills. Something about the shows brought out the voyeur in all of us. Technically the shows were noble in their concept. They wanted women to see and aspire to be like the successful women on the show. Unfortunately I've learned the road to hell really is paved with good intentions.

I decided to add this aspect to my blog not as a way to downgrade the women who are on the show. I am not one who knocks anyone's hustle. However, whether it's editing or not, a number of these ladies are not portrayed in a positive light. By the way, I'm including Big Rich Texas, Big Rich Atlanta and Love and Hip Hop.

A few years ago, I worked with a production company to do a wedding show. At the time Down That Aisle In Style A Wedding Guide For Full Figured Women had just been released. I made the rounds with very experienced and Emmy award winning producers. The idea was a show about curvy brides and how to find the right gown for their wedding while giving the audience a peek into their lives and loves as full figured women. The networks loved the idea but they heard the term full figured and it was translated as fat. I was ahead of the curve considering the number of wedding shows on television today. It's all in the timing. It was much more fun to have crazy out of control brides hamming it up on television for 15 minutes and a paid honeymoon.

Generally, I like the women of the Real Housewives. Nevertheless, I can't help but notice how reality television fame has changed them.  I feel Ne Ne Leakes from Atlanta was an instant hit because she was a woman the audience related to and her sayings and frankness endeared her to many. As for Vicki Gunvalson, I like that she's an independent business women. She clearly understands what it takes to be successful on a professional level. However, she can say it all day but I don't think her love tank is full. If her daughter brought a man home similar to the one Vicki is dating there is no way she'd sit still for that. I truly feel that once we get older, we ignore the same signs that would have sent us running fifteen years ago because we don't want to be alone.

I used Ne Ne and Vicki for reasons as they are two ends of the spectrum.When Ne Ne felt that Greg wasn't treating her the way he should, she divorced him. Now they are getting married again on Bravo in the fall and it seems to be a reaffirmation that love indeed does cover a multitude of sins. On the other hand, Vicki is with a man her daughter clearly doesn't like or trust. Brianna has stated that she, her husband and child would find their own place so Vicki can date as she likes. Vicki has stated that she's never been without a man in her life. I would submit that some Vicki time might do her some good. Her happiness shouldn't depend on whether or not she has a boyfriend or not. Her true happiness depends on Vicki.

Now for the south of forty women in the O. C., Alexis should probably think twice before she uses the word bully again. According to Webster dictionary a bully is a blustering browbeating person
or one who is habitually cruel to others who are weaker. I don't believe the women were bullying her in Costa Rica. Alexis isn't a weak person. The women pointed out how people may perceive her when she talked about the things she has.I looked at it as if she had a piece of spinach or lipstick on her teeth. A friend will alert you to the situation so you don't spend the whole evening with spinach stuck in your teeth.  The latest Orange County season has yet to run its course but I am sure there is a lot of drama ahead.

These reality shows have allowed a number of women to promote businesses, land endorsement deals, get book deals and get their own shows (daytime talk and spinoffs). I can't help but think of at what price glory?

I'll be tuning in to see what's happening in reality television. Although, I won't blog on a daily basis, I will pop up from time to time to share my musings about the show.

Body Image: Fear and Loathing at the Checkout Counter

Every now and then when I pass a newsstand with women’s magazines, I feel a twinge of envy. I’m from the age when my favorite magazines focused on fashion, beauty, career, relationships and the latest exercise craze and diet. Now they include curvy women in fashion editorials and even explore the negative and positive side of body image. Marie Claire offers practical and fashionable advice with Big Girls in a Skinny World. Glamour’s real everyday women fashion photo spread includes curvy women. Even the High Priestess of Praying Mantis Fashion, Anna Wintour, throws a curvy model (their version) into an issue or two of Vogue.

However, my envy quickly dissipates once I lay eyes on the tabloid magazines with glossy cover images of celebrities and eye catching headlines. Today’s tabloids are a mix of celebrities, fashion, movies/music/television and plenty of gossip. Years ago men like my boyfriend feared conversations based on relationship article and tests their girlfriends or wives read in a woman’s magazine. Hey guys for the most part you’re off the hook. Nevertheless, you’ll still hear “we have to talk” on occasion. After all we’re still women and we love to talk about the state of our relationship. Unfortunately, “Does this fill in the blank make my butt look big?” has gone from a grenade to a minefield.

Traditional women’s fashion magazines are published monthly. The tabloids are published weekly and they are constantly shifting focus. One week, Guiliana Rancic is on the cover with the “scary skinny” caption. A week later, she’s the paragon of health and fitness. Reese Witherspoon graced a cover for her post baby body. A couple of weeks later, she’s at a spa to get rid of stubborn baby weight.

Kim Khardashian is pregnant. I’ve lost count of the number of magazines that are focused on her expanding waistline along with a current (baby bump) and pre-baby (bikini) photo. Another photo showed pregnant Kim in front of a gym with a caption that referred to a fear of getting fat. She is pregnant, right? She’s literally eating for two. She is supposed to gain weight. On a fashion note, Kim isn’t helping her cause. For God’s sake buy some maternity clothes! On a personal note at least maternity wear is fashionable now. I was pregnant in the eighties when the maternity section was basically versions of burlap sacks and house frau mu-mus with flowers or stripes. I burned my maternity clothes about a week after I had my sons. Now that I got that off my chest, is it any wonder that we have six year old girls that are afraid of getting fat?

We live in a country where generally bigger is considered better. Employees want big pay raises and promotions. Directors, producers and actors want big box office or big ratings. Businesses want big profits. Conversely, we are also a nation of extremes. There are shows that promote healthy cooking and shows based around bacon.  Television weight loss programs like The Biggest Loser and Dancing with the Stars which in my opinion is code for The Biggest Loser: The Celebrity Spandex and Sequins Edition. There’s a reason there are so many ads for antidepressants. 

I have nothing against making changes to live a healthier life. I think it’s necessary to eat well, exercise and get enough rest. I’m a cancer survivor with secondary progressive MS and Celiac disease. I get it. I’ve seen the statistics for obesity in America. I understand the correlation to health care costs. Nevertheless, why aren’t we just as concerned with being emotionally healthy when it comes to body image?

You have to get down to the root cause for why people overeat. For women it’s the message we get every time we pick up a magazine or glance at a tabloid. Perhaps it's time we reflect on the saying,  Physician Heal Thyself and apply it to our lives.

One must conclude that body image issues must be addressed from the inside out. If a healthy balance is achieved,  we’ll become tabloid bullet proof. However, celebrities, I am sorry to say that it won't stop the people who love gossip about plastic surgery or the latest secret romance or break up.  My boyfriend, Michael hates this saying but in this case it’s apropos, tabloids are considered a guilty pleasure. At the very least, I hope to put an end to body guilt

Weight Loss Obsession: Stop Before You Make Another Resolution

It’s the holiday season. The newsstands are filled with magazines with holiday entrées and cookie recipes. People arrive to visit bearing homemade treats, wines and spirits. Then there are the countless office holiday parties with a veritable feast for employee’s eyes and stomachs.

            Most of us go into the holiday season with our minds set on not overindulging. Some of us win that battle while others decide Carpe Diem and head straight for the chocolate fountain. We’re all aware of the obesity rate here in the United States and how it’s affected more than just our physical health; it affects our economy in terms of what money is spent for healthcare for diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease to name a few.

            I live with several conditions. I have MS, Celiac disease and hypertension. I am very conscious about what I eat but I am still a curvy woman. Yet I don’t belong to any weight loss program regardless of how many times I’ve seen their television ads. I subscribe to something called moderation combined with a gluten free diet due to Celiac disease.

            We are only a few weeks away from New Year’s Eve when everyone makes their resolutions and you can be sure that weight loss will be at the top of the list overall. By January 2^nd all those weight loss ads will triple in air time and all those celebrities who embraced their curves in December will have been courted by a weight loss program or product to trim those curves they loved so much before Christmas. Then when we’ve been on the edge of our seats (or sometime around the fourth to sixth commercial) we’ll have the inevitable and magical reveal of their newly trim physiques. We have so much to look forward to.

            The reason I decided to write about this wasn’t to bash weight loss. I realize the importance of good health. I am just a little tired of the weight loss industry. It’s basically a business that in reality is based on more failure than success. A study led by UCLA associate professor of psychology Traci Mann, and reported in the American Psychologist in 2007, the journal of the American Psychological Association, essentially reported that the initial 5 to 10 percent of weight loss on any number of diets is eventually regained.

           

MSNBC followed up on contestants from several seasons of The Biggest Loser to see how they were doing after the finale. Some contestants kept most of the weight off with only minor fluctuations from their finale weigh in. However, most seemed to have gained the weight back and a few did that and then some. We have to take into account the fact that the way their weight loss was achieved was atypical. They had access to a nutritionist, personal trainers and the greatest motivator outside of getting healthy; there was a great big cash carrot at the end for the most weight lost.

Now that I’m north of forty plus, I wondered if I could use some of this wisdom that’s supposed to come with age to argue for a healthy, balanced approach to living well and not succumbing to a great sales pitch and sexy, slim celebrities and fabulous everyday people who lost weight and magically solved all their problems. The truth is weight can be a vicious cycle. Yo-yo dieting is worse than not dieting at all. Our bodies can only take so much and as we get older it take less and less.

Therefore, I say instead of making the standard resolution to lose fifty pounds before the first crocus peeks through the ground, set realistic goals you can live with and not eventually fight against. For example, if you live in a temperate climate begin with a 15 minute walk. If you live in a colder climate dust off the treadmill or other exercise equipment and do 15 minutes.

In terms of food unless you have an underlying condition and even if you don’t see your doctor and talk about what works for you. Together you can come up with something that makes the both of you happy. I’m lucky. My doctor knows that my hypertension is genetic. I am not and have never been a salt lover. I take medication and watch my diet. Diabetes runs in my family so I watch my carbohydrate intake. All of this is a lot of work but the first step is always the hardest.

By no means am I a skinny girl. I am a curvy woman and I’ve embraced it. I decided that I wanted to live life in the middle (moderation) lane. I won’t say that I don’t indulge now and then but what’s life without a least a trip or two to the chocolate fountain. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays

Time to tell the Politicians that The Election Is Over and It's Time To Work

I’m sure many people are relieved now that the election is over. Voting is a very personal thing but now that you’ve cast your vote it’s been made clear that the people have spoken and President Obama was re-elected for a second term.

Prior to the election, I posted my thoughts and views on the choice we had before us. Therefore, you know that I’m one of the many minority voters who felt that President Obama was right choice.

This Saturday is December 1^st which means that the election has been over for nearly a month. Yet Washington is back to playing politics with the fiscal cliff/curb that will affect the lives of the American people.

With his victory, President Obama secured a mandate or political capital (as George W Bush called it in 2004), which means he can say that he doesn’t want a deal that doesn’t include not raising taxes on the middle class, who can’t afford it. He wants to raise taxes on the 2%, who can afford it to pay their share. The top 2% has paid lower tax rates long enough. I know we’ve heard the reasoning that they are the job creators but time has shown that simply isn’t the truth. The trickle down theory doesn’t work.

The idea that politicians are still playing around with this is ridiculous. This isn’t a dress rehearsal, this is real life and their action and inaction have consequences that affect all of us. After seeing what some members of the 2% spent on supporting Romney, it’s obvious they had the money to burn so paying a higher tax rate shouldn’t cause them to sweat.

Regardless of what some people may think, the job creators are small business owners. Small business has been the backbone of this country for some time. While they aren’t as large as the big corporations, they employ more people, which is why President Obama proposed lower tax rates for them too.

If you have had enough of the political side show, go to the websites of the members of the House and Senate of your state and tell them to work with the President to hammer out a deal that won’t screw the majority. Although we’re not wealthy, we have the power of the vote. The truth is time moves very quickly and two years isn’t as far off as they’d like to think. I remember my 20^th birthday. I thought that forty was a whole twenty years away and I had plenty of time to achieve my goals. Now I am north of forty and an AARP membership is inching ever closer. Although the Rolling Stones sang Time Is On My Side, it clearly isn’t. We don’t have to behave like old people but we do need to recognize that if we’re lucky enough to age, we have to think about our future and that includes; Social Security, Medicare and other programs that aid us to live our best lives as we get older. Therefore the midterm elections are closer than most politicians think. Remember what happened in 2010? Not only do we remember, many of us have seen the errors of our votes and the errors of the people we put in office. Therefore, when it’s time to run for their seats again there may be a different outcome once voters leave the booth.

I encourage everyone who is of age to vote to take a little time and let your voice be heard. Susan Rice is just a diversion. I am truly sorry for the tragedy in Benghazi and the lives lost. I don’t take that lightly. However, another woman with the last name Rice went in front of law makers and the world to push the war in Iraq based on weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist, which has led to the longest 2 wars America’s ever been involved in and cost many soldiers to lose their lives to serve our country.

Together let’s tell our politicians to stop the madness and get to the table to work out a real deal to keep us going. Not only are we watching but now that we have a global economy the world is watching too. If you don’t believe me check out the Dow, investors are worried in the American and foreign markets.

Tabloid Weight Stories-Sending Mixed Messages to Women

Like so many people, I see the enormous number of tabloid magazines in bookstores, supermarket checkout counters, pharmacy check out counters and countless other places. Once again, I glanced at the cover of In Touch Weekly with Kourtney Khardashian and Scott Dissick. Normally I look at it for a moment and keep going. However, this time a caption about Adele that caught my eye. I actually opened the magazine to read the article as I am a fan of Adele.

After I read the article,I noticed a theme that made me take action and write the magazine. Whether or not anyone will pay attention to it, I have no idea. But I put it out there in the universe. I thought I'd share it with you.

In TouchWeekly

I picked up the November 26^th issue of In Touch Weekly. I was particularly interested in the articles that featured Adele, Kelly Clarkson and the crop of Hollywood celebrities who are too skinny.

I commend your magazine for covering both side of the aisle, so to speak. However, I feel that you may be sending mixed messages to young women and women who are north offorty like me. As you know, there has been a marked increased of eating disorders in middle age women.

My name is Chamein Canton. I’m a curvy novelist and wedding writer. I refer to my novels as curvy girl romances and still a chick lit for women over 40 who haven’t handed in their chick card for hormones, hot flashes or bifocals. I’ve written 6 novels Not His Type, Bliss Inc,. The More Things Change, Waiting for Mr. Darcy, Mixed Reality and I Take This Woman. When Down That Aisle In Style A Wedding GuideFor Full Figured Women (WindRiver Publishing) was released in 2006, I became an expert and appeared on The Insider, Get Married with David Tutera,The Today Show in New York, Eyewitness News Channel 7 Sunday edition and Fios’Push Pause. I’ve also worked on Newsday’s’ Bridal Planner twice

Body imageis what propels me to continue to write and contribute to newspapers and magazines about curvy women. I wasn’t always so evolved. For years I obsessed over the scale. I did some pretty stupid and dangerous things to lose weight. It took being diagnosed with cancer at 23 to put things into proper perspective. My obsession didn’t just take a backseat; I threw it out of the window.

Cancer changed me. I learned that in the end all that mattered was love and not size. The key to feeling and looking beautiful begins with self love; a love that includes body acceptance, setting realistic goals for your body and living a healthy lifestyle.

Now as a woman living with secondary progressive MS, I use my novels to help empower women to embrace their bodies and not be afraid to take chances in life and love. I made plus size the main character and love interest instead of taking on a second banana role (friend, mother).

I was affected by Hurricane Sandy and like many others it changed my life. I have learned to appreciate the small things in life like electricity, food, heat and I really value family and friends more than ever before. I know when the hurricane hit, they weren't concerned with how I looked, they worried that we were all right and what they could do to help.

To that end, though you cover entertainment, I would love to read about curvy celebs who have truly embraced their body and are grateful for the many blessings celebrity has given them. I believe we’ve seen one too many “proud curvy celebrities” jump off the bandwagon when Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig calls.

Thank you for your time.

Best regards,